isaac h



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SHIPS TABLE.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 56,117, dated July 3, 1866; antedated June 30, 1866.

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, IsAAc H. S'roDDARD, of Amenia, Dutchess county, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Marine Tables; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to thev letters of reference marked thereon.

In the annexed drawing, making part of this specification, A represents the base ofthe table, which is made in a cylindrical, Octagonal, or other suitable shape. Over this base is constructed a rectangular frame, B, firmly secured to said base.

O C represent the tables, being made in sections, as shown, and detached from each other, so that each will have a separate movement.

e e represent cross-bars, which are secured upon the frame B at proper intervals to sustain the tables.

i 'i i are metallic plates, secured tothe under sides of the tables, said plates being provided with short metallic arms extending downward, on which arms are formed the balls c a, which rest in suitable sockets in the crossbars e e, forming ball-joints. Y

D D represent semicircular metallic bars, which are secured under the tables in the position shown by means of the same screws which attach the plates z' to the tables. To each one of the bars D is a short arm for connecting them all together, as will be described.` Dl represents one of the metallic semicircular bars, which is secured to the center-table. This bar is provided with a long arm, g, which extends down into the base A, and which has secured to its lower end a heavy weight, E.

F F F F represent four rods, which serve to connect the short arms of the bars D D, as shown in Figure 1.

G are cross-rods which connect the long arm g to the rods F.

H H are also connecting-rods, passing to the arms of the tables, as shown, for the purpose of more securely binding all together and giving them a simultaneous movement.

It will be understood that the rods are pivoted to the arms in such a manner as to allow a free movement of the tables when necessary.

The object of this construction and arrangement is obvious.

The table being intended for sea service, it is very necessary that it should be so arranged that it will always stand level while t-he ship is rocking, and so that it will accommodate itself readily to this position.

The heavy weight attached to the lower end of the long arm g will always tend to keep the arm g in a vertical position, and, through and by means of it, the several tables.

It will thus be seen that although the ship may toss or roll in any manner usual for ships upon water, the table will always preserve its horizontal position, thus preventing the dishes and food placed upon it from becoming moved or deranged in position.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isi The arrangement of the tables C with the rods F, G, and H, and with the arm g and weight E, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

ISAAC H. S'IODDARD.

Witnesses EGBERT VINCENT, NEWTON HEBARD. 

